Category: Environmental science

Competencies In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competencies: Explain how human and environmental systems are interconnected Explain how sustainable systems balance social, economic, and environmental needs Analyze approaches to address a sustainability issue Overview Throughout this course, you have explored how sustainability can be considered in various contexts and within the three pillars of business, social justice, and environmental quality. In previous modules, you have explored these pillars, drafted parts that will be included in this project, and received feedback on that work. For your project, you will incorporate the knowledge gained and the feedback given on your drafts for one of the following scenarios and its related profile. You will also look at actionable steps that others have taken that could be looked at for your chosen group. Scenario #1: Business You were recently hired as Director of Sustainability at McBurrow Mining, a local mining company. In this role, you will be working to guide the Board of Directors to understand how policies, vision, and manufacturing processes relate to sustainability and environmental issues. Once they gain that understanding, they will want to see how this has worked in other companies facing similar issues. By reading the McBurrow Mining profile linked in the Supporting Materials section, you will learn about an example that highlights sustainability in action. In the template, you will describe some actionable steps the board could take for each pillar of sustainability. Scenario #2: Social Justice You live in a neighborhood with an active community organization. You and your neighbors are very concerned about inequity, as the city is spending money on improving road conditions in some areas, but not others. One of your neighbors asked you to join them in attending a Community Action Meeting to address these observations in the form of an informational campaign. By reading the Elm Glen city profile linked in the Supporting Materials section, you will learn about an example that highlights sustainability in action. In the template, you will describe some actionable steps the community group could take for each pillar of sustainability. Scenario #3: Environmental Quality You are a member of your colleges Environmental Science Quality Club. The group has decided theyd like to move forward with a campaign to help inform and educate the campus community on what environmental quality is, how it should look on campus, and what actionable steps the campus community could take to encourage environmental quality practices. By reading the Environmental Science Quality Club profile linked in the Supporting Materials section, you will learn about an example that highlights sustainability in action. In the template, you will describe some actionable steps the club could take for each pillar of sustainability. Directions Based on your chosen scenario, respond to each part below by completing the Project Template. Each scenario will require you to demonstrate your understanding of sustainable practices, the potential impacts and influences on decisions made in sustainability, and the actionable steps you could take to address sustainable issues for your chosen group. You will use the Scenario Profiles linked in the Supporting Materials section to support your work on the project. This document contains descriptions of the related group for each scenario, as well as a relevant case study that relates to the sustainability issue. Specifically, you must address the following: Part One: Sustainable Practices In this section, you will look at the interconnectedness of environmental issues and human behavior as it relates to your chosen scenario. To do this, you will look at both how the environmental systems in use impact the community as well as how the community use impacts the environmental systems in place. You will also look at the groups overall bias in addressing sustainability in your community. Describe how environmental systems in use in your chosen scenario impact human behavior. Consider ecosystems, cultural systems, and organizational systems in your response. Describe the impact of the current resource use on the environment. What resources does the group in your scenario use? What is the impact on the environment? Describe how human ideology impacts behavior regarding environmental systems. What policies or vision impacts the environmental systems in use within your chosen group? Think about your chosen group; what behaviors do they practice regarding the environmental systems? Explain the role of cultural bias in your chosen groups approach to global sustainability. What are some of the biases within the group that impact the use of the resources discussed in the scenario? Part Two: Profile In this section, you will use a provided profile related to your chosen group to consider how organizations or groups mentioned in the profile have improved (or not improved) their sustainability practices. Describe the value of sustainability practices in human and environmental systems. What are the short-term benefits of implementing sustainable practices in your chosen groups related profile? What are the long-term benefits of implementing these sustainable practices? Explain the relationship between sustainable systems and human equity in the context of the related profile. In what ways did your profile highlight the relationship between sustainable practices and human equity? Describe how conflict resolution is used in the profile to support sustainability. What examples of conflict resolution were evident in your profile? How were the conflicts resolved (or not) in your profile? How did resolving conflicts impact sustainable practices? Explain how cultural systems relate to sustainability within the profile. What cultural systems were predominant in your profile? What role did culture play in sustainability efforts in your profile? Part Three: Actionable Steps In this section, you will focus on describing actionable steps related to sustainability for your chosen group. To do this, you will highlight the current state of your chosen groups sustainability practice and then describe actionable steps for each pillar of sustainability. Explain why sustainability improvement is needed in your chosen group. What areas of sustainability are needed in your chosen group? What are the benefits for your chosen group if they improve sustainability practices? Describe how the perspectives of the various stakeholders of your chosen group provide a context to improve sustainability practices related to the concerns of the group. How do the perspectives within the group influence efforts made to improve sustainability practices? Explain how cultural diversity in your chosen group can be of value in addressing sustainability issues. Recommend actionable steps your chosen group could take for each pillar of sustainability. Reflect on what you know about your chosen group and sustainability. What are some actions that could be taken to improve sustainability? For each pillar of sustainability, what are some benefits of improving sustainability practices within your chosen group? What to Submit To complete this project, you must submit the following: Submit your completed Project Template for grading. No sources are required. However, if you choose to use sources, they should be cited according to APA style. Supporting Materials The following material supports your work on the project: Scenario Profiles This resource contains profiles for each scenario of the project. Project Rubric Criteria Exceeds Expectations (100%) Meets Expectations (85%) Partially Meets Expectations (55%) Does Not Meet Expectations (0%) Value Sustainable Practices: Environmental Systems Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Describes how environmental systems in use in the chosen scenario impact human behavior Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of the environmental systems or clearer description of the impact on human behavior Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Sustainable Practices: Impact Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Describes the impact of the current resource use on the environment Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of the impact on the environment or more details on the current resource use of the chosen group Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Sustainable Practices: Behavior Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Describes how human ideology impacts behavior regarding the environmental systems in place at the chosen group Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough description of the impact or more information about human ideology or environmental systems Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Sustainable Practices: Role of Cultural Bias Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Explains the role of cultural bias in the chosen groups sustainable global environmental use Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough explanation of the role of cultural bias or clearer description of its relation to the chosen groups sustainable global environmental use Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Profile: Value of Sustainability Practices Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Describes the value of sustainability practices in human and environmental systems Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of the value of sustainability practices or how these practices support efforts towards a more sustainable future Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Profile: Relationship Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Explains the relationship between sustainable systems and human equity in the context of the related profile Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough explanation of the relationship between sustainable systems and human equity Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Profile: Conflict Resolution Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Describes how conflict resolution is used in the profile to support sustainability Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of how conflicts were resolved to support sustainability Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Profile: Cultural Systems Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Explains how cultural systems relate to sustainability within the profile Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough explanation of how cultural systems relate to sustainability within the case study Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Actionable Steps: Sustainability Improvement Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Explains why sustainability improvement is needed in the chosen group Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough explanation of the areas of sustainability improvement needed Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Actionable Steps: Context Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Describes how the perspectives of the various stakeholders of the chosen group provide a context to improve sustainability practices related to the concerns of the group Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of how the policies and vision of the chosen group relate to the recommendations Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Actionable Steps: Cultural Diversity Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Explains how cultural diversity in the chosen group can be of value in addressing sustainability issues Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough explanation for how cultural diversity can add value in sustainability practices Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Actionable Steps: Recommendations Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner Recommends actionable steps the chosen group could take for each pillar of sustainability Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of the sustainability recommendations for each pillar Does not attempt criterion 7.5 Clear Communication Exceeds expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understanding Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication 10 Total:

References Chiras, D. D. (2016). Environmental science (10th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Miller, G. T., Jr., & Spoolman, S. (2021). Living in the environment (20th ed.). Cengage Learning. https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780357142332 Suggested Unit Resources Consider also reading Chapter 12 (related to food production) as well as Chapter 15 (related to nonrenewable energy). Understanding these two topics more in-depth will help you to better grasp the general strategies of sustaining natural resources.

Discussion Points:

Large solar cell farms are being installed in remote desert environments, such as the Mojave Desert and the Sahara Desert. Our textbook authors list ecosystem disruption as a potential disadvantage to this type of renewable energy source. What type of ecosystem disruption may we expect from these farms? What are some ideas for protecting the affected ecosystem while keeping these farms?

If no initial posts exist to allow for a response to be made, you may submit an additional initial post addressing another aspect of the unit topic.

Part 1

Wegener’s Evidence

For part 1 of this assignment, you will be exploring the major types of evidence that were proposed by Alfred Wegener regarding the Theory of Continental Drift. As you may recall from the course reading, while his theory eventually evolved into The Theory of Plate Tectonics, Wegener laid the foundation for modern thought regarding the movements of tectonic plates.

Source: SpecialEventConsulting. (2016). [JPG]. Pixabay.

Visit the following link:

OR these links:

Five types of evidence for Wegener’s theory are displayed. Review each of the evidence types.

Then, in a minimum of two sentences for each type, describe the evidence proposed.

• Jigsaw Fit
• Tectonic Fit
• Fossil Evidence
• Geological Fit
• Glacial Deposits

Then, for each of the scientists listed on the site, describe how their ideas caused the original theory to evolve into what we know today.

• Harry Hammond Hess
• Frederick Vine and Drummond Matthews
• John Tuzo-Wilson
• Dan McKenzie

Part 2

As part of this task, you will be creating a Google drawing of the following types of plate boundaries. Be sure to label each of your diagrams. Please carefully go through the if you have never used Google Draw before.

• Convergent Boundary (Subduction)
• Convergent Boundary (Collision)
• Divergent Boundary
• Transform Boundary

Part 3

Interactive Rock Cycle

• Go to:
• Go through all of the sections by participating in the interactive games and questions and by reading the text.
• Complete the “Test Your Skills” Quiz. Screen capture your results and paste the image into your assignment document.

Part 4

Soil Texture Classification

Soil has sometimes been called “the humble remains of once proud bedrock.” It is created from the leftovers that remain behind after a rock is broken down by weathering.

Today, you will observe a method of soil texture classification and complete a few practice problems that reflect what you have viewed.

Geologists generally classify soil based on the grain size of its mineral particles. These fall into three categories:

• Sand: gritty
• Silt: dusty
• Clay: fine and sticky

Complete the following steps:

1. Access the video clip below about soil texture.
2. Using the chart on your Unit 4 Assignment document, complete the provided exercise questions.

School of Permaculture. (2016, August 26). The Soil Texture Triangle [Video], 4:27 mins. .

Unit 4 Assignment Part 4 was adapted from the SERC Virtual Soil Classification Activity by Karen Rose Cercone.

Submission Instructions

Once completed, submit the Unit 4 Assignment document to this assignment dropbox in either Word or PDF format.

Due on Feb 22, 2026 11:59 PM

Available until Feb 23, 2026 11:59 PM. Access restricted after availability ends.

Attachments

(125.33 KB)

I need 3-5 pages (approx. 750-1250 words) and should incorporate my work from Milestones 1-6. The title page and reference list do not count toward the 3-5 page requirement. my draft paper Using my Milestone 5 outline, begin to flesh out each of the body paragraphs by adding evidence from your sources that support the thesis (along with proper in-text citations for ideas or quotes from the sources). Remember to use the guidelines learned in Module 4 for paraphrasing and quoting from your sources. In addition, make sure to include transitions between paragraphs and wrap up the paper with a conclusion paragraph that reiterates the thesis argument and offers some concluding thoughts. Review and edit work Once a full draft written, make sure to re-read it carefully with an eye on the details. Your final submission should include: At least 4 references. A title page and reference page in APA style. These do not count toward the 3-5 page requirement. In-text citations in APA format. An introductory paragraph with your clear, one-sentence thesis statement (this should NOT be underlined at this point). Body paragraphs that use information from the sources as evidence to prove the thesis statement. One paragraph that refutes opposing perspectives. A conclusion paragraph that offers final thoughts and reiterates the thesis statement. Proper spelling, syntax, and grammar. Improvements based on feedback from your instructor and peer (i.e. to the thesis statement, introduction, organization, use of sources, APA style, etc.).

please follow the instructions of the pictures I will attach and this is not like a literature essay and more science an technology. its also based on the book reading who owns haiti? which I will attach

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the world of plastics waste! You will create a PowerPoint presentation to explore current issues and solutions, which will be reviewed and questioned by the class. See who can come up with the most innovative ideas!

Create a reeding jounal for Carol A. MacLennan, Sovereign Sugar: Industry and Environment in HawaiiCarol A. MacLennan, Sovereign Sugar: Industry and Environment in Hawaii

this is what. i have, it got flagged for ai and i have to restart. use my work cited and make sure it is IRR AP seminar

Choose the same species and the same 4 characters in the food web from the first Your Species, Your Choice Authentic Assessment. If you did not submit an assignment, choose 4 Disney characters in a food web. You may use PowerPoint or any other tool that you are familiar with to create your infographic. Only pdf, ppt, and pptx files are accepted. Your infographic should encompass the concepts in a visually pleasing way.

1. Open the using the same SpongeBob SquarePants characters. You may use it as a template, but you cannot use the same organisms.
2. Describe at least 1 type of species interaction (either mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, inter or intra-specific competition, not predation) for one of the species. The explanation should provide enough details to explain an understanding of the species interaction.
3. Classify each species as a r strategist, K strategist, or in-between, proving an explanation for each. You should give details on the aspects that make it a K or r strategist or somewhere in-between.
4. Create a survivorship curve for the species in your food web (this can be done getting a blank survivorship curve and putting clipart of your characters on it or use my template). All Survivorship Curve Types (I, II, III) may not be covered, depending on what species you have chosen. Label the curves with Type I, II, or III.
5. Explain why each organism follows the type of survivorship curve you created.
6. Submit the infographic as a PowerPoint or pdf.